Latest news with #GeologicalSurveyofIndia
Time of India
a day ago
- Climate
- Time of India
72 landslide-prone villages in Pune on high alert; officials told to draw up evacuation plan
P une: The district administration has placed 72 landslide-prone villages on high alert as the monsoon intensified across the region resulting in heavy rain in the last few days. Officials have been directed to make immediate arrangements for evacuation in case of emergencies. The alert is based on the Geological Survey of India (GSI)'s 2023 report that lists several at-risk areas across 15 talukas, including Maval (15 villages), Velhe (10), Mulshi (8), Khed (6), Junnar and Bhor (5 each). Among high-risk villages are Kalewadi, Ambwane, Ghutke, Nayphad, and Dhanvali — many of which lie close to hill slopes or riverbanks. Collector Jitendra Dudi has instructed taluka-level officers and tehsildars to identify the most vulnerable areas and prepare contingency plans. "Evacuation and relocation protocols must be ready and drills must be carried out to ensure a timely response during heavy rain," said Vitthal Banote, a district disaster management official. Tehsildars have been tasked with auditing structures in high-risk zones and identifying safe locations where residents can be temporarily shifted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sheffield: If You Were Born Between 1945-1974 You Could Be Eligible For This British Seniors Read More Undo A 24-hour monitoring cell will be established in each taluka, and emergency response teams are being equipped and trained. The administration has also instructed that roads prone to flooding be barricaded and appropriate warning signage installed. "Villages close to water bodies need to be warned well in advance, and encroachments in high-risk areas must be cleared. Our focus is on preventing incidents," Banote said. Volunteer groups such as Aapda Mitra, which assist during disasters, are also being provided with essential equipment. Meanwhile, funds for relocating residents in three of the most vulnerable villages — located in Bhor, Khed, and Mulshi talukas — are still awaited from state govt. Officials confirmed that a revised proposal has been sent for approval. Authorities have stressed the need for public awareness drives and rapid deployment of safety measures to avoid a repeat of past tragedies. After the 2014 Malin landslide in Ambegaon taluka, which claimed several lives, the number of identified landslide-prone villages in Pune increased from 23 to 72. Varandha Ghat closed for 3 months As a precautionary measure, the district collectorate has ordered the closure of Varandha Ghat — a vital mountain pass linking Pune to Mahad — to heavy vehicles from June 1 to Sept 30 due to heightened landslide risks. The ghat, which runs through Bhor taluka, sees frequent landslides and slope failures during monsoon. The ongoing road-widening work has added to its vulnerability. Officials emphasised that trucks and buses will not be allowed, and during red or orange weather alerts issued by IMD, even light vehicles will face restrictions. The steep terrain, combined with dense forests, slippery roads, and poor visibility, poses a serious hazard to commuters in the rainy season. Authorities have advised motorists to use alternative routes such as Mangaon-Nizampur-Tamhini-Mulshi-Pirangut during the closure.
News18
3 days ago
- Science
- News18
India's Earthquake Alerts May Now Arrive Seconds Before The Tremors Do
Last Updated: India is setting up an early warning system to detect quakes in advance. Starting from the Himalayas, alerts will soon be issued before tremors hit, helping save lives and property India is taking a major step toward improving disaster preparedness with the launch of an early earthquake warning system. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) will now issue alerts seconds before strong tremors hit, similar to weather warnings. The system is expected to give people and authorities crucial time to respond. The initiative was announced by OP Mishra, Director of NCS, who described it as a key step by the central government. A pilot project has already begun, with initial installations underway in the Himalayan region. The system is based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and will gradually expand across the country. How Will GNSS Detect Earthquakes? The GNSS monitors subtle ground movements to detect seismic activity before tectonic plates shift significantly. While earthquakes cannot be predicted in advance, early detection allows alerts to be issued as soon as initial tremors are sensed—helping reduce loss of life and damage to infrastructure. Drawing from Global Expertise India's new system uses state-of-the-art technology developed in Japan and Taiwan. It detects the primary wave (P-wave)—a fast-moving, low-damage signal released during an earthquake—before the more damaging secondary wave (S-wave) arrives. Upon P-wave detection, a signal is sent to the NCS control room within seconds, triggering alerts that include estimated intensity and impact area. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed on June 20 between NCS and the Geological Survey of India to further support the rollout. The alerts will be sent to state governments, local authorities, hospitals, and disaster management teams via the National Disaster Management Authority. The new system marks a critical advancement in India's seismic readiness and could significantly improve emergency response during future earthquakes. First Published: June 18, 2025, 15:10 IST
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
GRSE to build two Coastal Research Vessels for GSI in Kolkata
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has secured a contract to build two Coastal Research Vessels for the Geological Survey of India, adding to their portfolio of research platforms. GRSE is already constructing an Ocean Research Vessel and an Acoustic Research Ship. The 64-meter CRVs will support offshore geological mapping, mineral exploration, and ocean environment monitoring. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Kolkata: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has signed a contract for construction of two Coastal Research Vessels (CRVs) for the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in Kolkata in the research domain.'The signing of this contract highlights GRSE's expertise in the field of research platforms. The shipyard is currently building an Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, and an Acoustic Research Ship (ARS) for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), an establishment under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),' a MoD statement said.'Each CRV will have a length of 64 meters with a width of 12 meters. The deadweight tonnage of each CRV will be about 450 Tons. The vessels will have an endurance of 15 days with a top speed of 10 knots. Each ship will have facilities for 35 personnel on board,' officials specialised vessels will have capabilities to carry out offshore geological mapping, mineral exploration (including dredging), ocean environment monitoring and research. The ships will have modern, well-equipped scientific laboratories on board for data processing and sample analysis, officials contract for the two Coastal Research Vessels (CRVs) was signed by Cdr Shantanu Bose, Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE and Deputy Director General & HoD, Marine & Coastal Survey Division of GSI N M Shareef, in the presence of Shri Asit Saha, Director General- GSI, and other senior officials from GRSE & GRSE's backbone is warship building, the shipyard has specialization in the construction of research vessels. In 1994, it delivered the marine acoustic research ship INS Sagardhwani to NPOL. Between 1981 and 1993, GRSE also delivered six survey vessels to the Navy. Over the last two years, the shipyard also delivered two Survey Vessels (Large) of the Sandhayak class to the Navy. Two more ships of this class are currently under construction at GRSE. These survey vessels are the largest and the most advanced of their class ever built in shipyard is presently building 16 warships of four different classes for the Navy. GRSE has also emerged as the lowest bidder for the Navy's Next Generation Corvettes (NGC) programme and expects to be awarded the contract to build five of these vessels. GRSE is also building eight multi-purpose cargo vessels for a German company, people in the know said.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- New Indian Express
Proud moment for Andhra Pradesh as Belum Caves get GSI tag
VIJAYAWADA: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has granted Geo Heritage Site status to the historic Belum Caves. With this recognition, Belum Caves becomes the seventh site in the State to receive this prestigious status. Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh hailed the recognition as a proud moment. 'Glad that the GSI has given special recognition to the world-famous Belum Caves in Kolimigundla of Nandyal district. These are not just natural wonders but ancient cultural sites that deserve national and global attention,' he said. Belum Caves is the country's second-longest publicly accessible limestone cave system. Formed by a tributary of the ancient Chitravathi River, the site also features archaeological remains, including pre-Buddhist pottery and relics linked to Buddhist and Jain monks. The caves were first documented in 1884 by British geologist Robert Bruce Foote. They were later explored in the 1980s and declared a protected site in 1988 before opening to the public in 2002. Durgesh said that the inclusion in the GSI list is expected to increase both domestic and international tourist footfall. 'With this announcement, Belum Caves will become even more popular as a tourist destination. The tag will also bring infrastructure improvements,' he added. He said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is committed to strengthening tourism in the State. 'We will ensure more publicity for Belum Caves to attract foreign visitors and highlight its geological and cultural significance,' Durgesh said. The tourism department plans to enhance connectivity, upgrade amenities, and promote the site to align with the international attention it is now poised to receive.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Yoga should be an integral part of life: RDO
Kolimigundla: 'Yoga must become a continuous process in every individual's daily life,' stated Dhone Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Narasimhulu. He inaugurated a large-scale yoga session organised as part of the Yogandhra initiative at the premises of the Belum Caves in Kolimigundla mandal on Friday. The session witnessed the participation of around 1,850 individuals. District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Dr Venkataramana, District Tourism Officer Satyanarayana, Senior AYUSH Medical Officer Dr Yashodhara, along with several other district officials and staff, also took part in the event. Speaking on the occasion, RDO Narasimhulu stressed that yoga should be a regular and lifelong practice for every human being. He stated that the State Government, under the directions of the District Collector, has been implementing the prestigious yoga program at various sacred and tourist sites with the aim of promoting health among devotees and travelers. He noted that yoga demonstrations have already been conducted at renowned locations such as Srisailam and Mahanandi. In this continuation, the mass yoga event held at the Belum Caves with nearly 1,850 participants was particularly significant. He also highlighted that the Geological Survey of India has recognised the Belum Caves as a geo-heritage site of national importance. He further informed that nearly 8 lakh people have registered on the Yogandhra app in the district. RDO Narasimhulu expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the event. Speaking at the event, DMHO Dr Venkataramana said that practicing yoga in such a serene environment was a delightful experience. He appealed to the public to incorporate yoga into their daily routine to preserve and enhance their health. As part of the Yogandhra protocol, AYUSH yoga trainers led participants through various asanas including Vrikshasana, Vakrasana, Setu Bandhasana, Tadasana, Uttanapadasana, Pavanamuktasana, Ardha Chakrasana, Shalabhasana, Ustrasana, Padahastasana, and Dandasana. Additionally, breathing exercises such as Kapalabhati, Anulom-Vilom, Sheetali, and Bhramari pranayama were conducted.
